US congresswoman Giffords discharged from Houston hospital

WASHINGTON/DAMMAM: A US lawmaker has decided to resign his seat in Congress after a two-week scandal spawned by lewd and even X-rated photos he took of himself and sent online to numerous women, relieved Democratic officials said Thursday.
The furor over the suggestive photos and other revelations about Rep. Anthony Weiner has been a distraction for Democrats seeking momentum as they gear up for the November 2012 elections.
The story is being keenly followed in Saudi Arabia with satellite channels and Arabic news websites talking about the controversies in great detail. However, when Arab News tried to contact a couple of Saudis they refused to comment on Weiner’s issue. They said they are a private society and generally do not comment on the personal life of others.
Weiner has been at a treatment facility at a secret location since last weekend and has not been seen since telling reporters last Saturday he intended to return to work.
One official said Weiner telephoned House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi and Rep. Steve Israel, the head of the party campaign committee, on Wednesday evening to tell them of his plans to quit after 14 years in office. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity, citing the private nature of the conversations.
Weiner’s decision to give up his House seat marks the end of a scandal that resulted from the brash New Yorker’s use of social media such as Twitter and Facebook.
He at first denied having sent any inappropriate photos, then recanted in a remarkable news conference 10 days ago at which he admitted having exchanged inappropriate messages with several women. His confession triggered a tabloid-style frenzy in print and online that only grew more pronounced a few days later when an X-rated photo of the 46-year-old lawmaker surfaced on a website.
After initially calling for a House ethics committee investigation, Pelosi dramatically ramped up the pressure on Saturday when she joined with other Democratic party leaders in calling on Weiner to step down.
Within hours, Weiner disclosed his plans to enter treatment, and Pelosi’s aides made it known that did not negate her demand for a resignation.
Weiner was reluctant to make any decision about his career without speaking with his wife, Huma Abedin, a top aide to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton who had been overseas since shortly after the scandal broke. The trip ended Tuesday night. Abedin is pregnant with the couple’s first child.